What Does The PFP® OFFER?
- Proven strategies on how to best serve your clients' individual needs through financial planning.
- Comprehensive knowledge of the Canadian financial planning and advice space.
- Effective approaches to establish deeper client relationships built upon trust, credibility and superior performance.
What Will You Learn?
| How to develop more robust financial plans by effectively managing all aspects of a client's financial situation including: insurance, investments, retirement, estate planning and tax strategy. | Practical 'how-to' approaches to collaborate with other industry experts to create a more comprehensive financial planning strategy. | How to improve and maximize your client relationships. |
Why is The PFP® The Leading Industry Standard?
Since 2010, over 4300 Personal Financial Planner designations have been awarded to industry leading financial planning professionals. Accredited by the American National Standards Institute to ISO 17024, which acknowledges meeting global standards for certifications, CSI ensures PFP professionals meet the highest standards of competence and professionalism.
The PFP® is a comprehensive financial planning designation that is flexible and accessible. Course and certification exams can be written any time of the year. There are tailored education paths for securities, mutual fund, insurance and banking professionals, and students can achieve interim certificates while they work towards completing the PFP designation.
The PFP® Professional Competency Profile is the foundational document for the Personal Financial Planner (PFP®) designation that describes the required competencies (i.e., the knowledge, skills and abilities) of professionals awarded the designation. The Competency Profile is the defining resource for what a financial planner can and should do in practice. As such, it is used to set the requirements for the pre-requisite education programs, the work experience component, the Applied Financial Planning Certification Examination and for continuing education requirements. The Competency Profile was updated in June 2017.
For more information about certification requirements for the Personal Financial Planner (PFP®) designation and to access investor information, connect to the PFP® designation website.
Due to Quebec provincial regulations, individuals representing themselves to the public as a financial planner must hold the Pl. Fin. designation. Therefore the PFP designation cannot be used in Quebec for this purpose. If you are interested in becoming certified as a financial planner in the Province of Quebec, please click here to review CSI’s financial planning program for the Province of Quebec.
Click here if you are you a CFP holder and looking for advanced standing to earn the PFP designation.
What is the Financial Planning Regulation in Canada?
Ontario
The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FRSA) Financial Professionals Title Protection Rule came into effect in March 2022 which limits the use of the title of "financial planner" in Ontario to individuals who have obtained a credential from a credentialing body approved by FSRA.
CSI is pleased to be approved as a credentialing body by the FRSA under the Financial Professionals Title Protection Framework. The approval of our Personal Financial Planner (PFP®) designation will enable present and future PFP® designation holders to use the Financial Planning title in Ontario.
Saskatchewan
The Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan (FCAA or the Authority) is publishing for comment Proposed Regulations [2021-001] – The Financial Planners and Financial Advisors Regulations (the Proposed Regulations) under The Financial Planners and Financial Advisors Act (FPFAA). This legislation is intended to limit the use of the titles of "financial planner" and "financial advisor." It is still in the public comment phase.
New Brunswick
The Financial and Consumer Services Commission of New Brunswick ("FCNB") is seeking public comment on potential approaches to the regulation of the titles "Financial Planner" and "Financial Advisor" in New Brunswick.
Quebec
The PFP® designation cannot be used in Quebec due to provincial regulations. To use the title "Financial Planner" in Quebec, individuals must hold the Pl. Fin. designation. CSI has a Financial Planning Education Program for Quebec, which prepares individuals to attain the Pl. Fin designation.
WHY BECOME A PFP®?
In addition to qualifying you to develop and manage comprehensive financial plans for your clients, your PFP® designation provides you with the following benefits: